Casino Doorman Keeps Teenager With Knife at Bay for 20 Minutes

_{Grosvenor Casino Nottingham was the site of the knife attack. (Image: Google)}

A 19-year-old brandished a knife outside Grosvenor Casino, Nottingham after being refused entry. A vigilant doorman kept him at bay until police arrived.

Late on the night of July 13, the defendant, identified as Nadir Mokadeh and aged 19, approached the casino on Maid Marian Way and was refused admission because he lacked proof of age. The court heard that he then produced a knife and confronted the casino doorman, Ismail Hamza, telling him to “back up” multiple times.

Prosecutor Katie Hardiman said Mr Hamza attempted to calm the situation, stating, “drop the knife and we can talk”, but Mokadeh instead “started swinging it around”. 

At one point Hamza managed to take the mobile phone from Mokadeh and told him he would return it if the weapon was dropped. The standoff lasted approximately 20 minutes, until police arrived and arrested the teenager.

Mokadeh admitted to threatening another person with a bladed article in public and has no prior convictions.

At Nottingham Crown Court, Judge James Sampson described the incident as “clearly so serious that it crosses the custodial threshold”. He added: 

“You pulled a knife on a man who was just doing his job and you repeatedly threatened him… Had you been an adult I would have had no hesitation in sending you to prison.”

Because this is Mokadeh’s first offence and he is still young, the judge imposed a sentence of 14 months’ detention in a young offenders’ institution, suspended for 21 months. Additional requirements include 15 hours of unpaid work, 15 rehabilitation sessions, and payment of £150 to contribute to prosecution costs.

Knife Crime a Rising Trend

This case highlights the rising trend of knife-related incidents in public spaces and how frontline workers, such as nightclub and casino doormen, are increasingly at risk. It underscores the tensions around age verification in licensed premises, the presence of weapons in nightlife zones, and the broader challenge facing police and licensing authorities in keeping venues safe.